Basketball (W)

Hampton and Howard Lead Women's Basketball Over Saint Paul's

SALISBURY, NC -- Catawba registered a 73-59 win over visiting Saint Paul’s in women’s basketball action on Tuesday afternoon at Goodman Gym. The Catawba Indians never trailed and improve to 6-3. The Tigers fall to 3-3.

Catawba used a 12-2 run early in the opening half to build a double-digit lead at 19-7 at the 10:09 mark. The Lady Indians would push their lead to as many as 21 points before a late 10-3 run by Saint Paul’s pulled the Tigers within 40-26 at the break.

The Tigers closed within 40-30 at the start of the final half, but Catawba ran off eight straight points on three-pointers by Dione Eccles (Clemmons, NC/W. Forsyth HS) and Cameron Clark (Albemarle, NC/N. Stanly HS) and a basket by NeKeithia Howard (Macon, GA/Northeast HS) for a 48-30 edge with 15:36 to play. The Tigers used a 14-4 run to close to 52-44 and cut the deficit to 54-49 on a three-pointer by Alicia Brown (Newport News, VA) with 8:30 remaining.

Hillary Hampton (Salisbury, NC/W. Rowan HS) hit a three-pointer and added a pair of free throws to help Catawba build its lead back to 61-51 with 4:54 to go and the Lady Indians held a double-figure lead the rest of the way. Howard led Catawba with 21 points and eight rebounds, while Hampton added 18.

Saint Paul’s was led by Katrina Wright (Wichita, KS) with 21 points and Brown, who added 13 points and nine rebounds. Catawba held a huge margin at the line, making 21-of-31 to just 5-of-10 for the Tigers. Saint Paul’s also suffered 25 turnovers with 16 coming in the opening half. Catawba made a dozen of its 21 turnovers after the break.